Divisional newcomers are early-season pacesetters

In the Premier Division Ilsington Villa are now the only unbeaten team following their 3-0 victory against Newton Abbot 66 who lost for the first time this season.
Matt Warman and Jack Langford were on target for the Moorlanders who remain in second place with a game in hand over leaders Morley Rangers. They travelled across the Plymstock Road to face local rivals Elburton Villa and came away with a 2 – 1 win thanks to goals from Ben Hall and Steven Rogers.
Last season's Division One champions Beesands Rovers moved into third place with an excellent 4-0 win against an improving Waldon Athletic at Loddiswell playing fields. Elsewhere in the Premier WBB and last season's champions Kingsteignton Athletic found their mojo and picked up their first wins of this season.
Division Ones new boys Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds and Paignton Saints remain the only two teams yet to drop points, Spurs came away from a trip to the coast with a 1-0 win against previously unbeaten Brixham Town and they now top the league with a three point gap but close on their heels with two games in hand are Paignton Saints who left it very late at Long Lane to turn around a two goal deficit to win 4 – 2 against Watcombe Wanderers who slip to fifth place. Elsewhere in One Totnes and Dartington got their first win of the season and Ivybridge Town stay in contention with a 5-0 win at Harbertonford.
Last season's Division Three champions Bovey Tracey 2nds remain top of division two with a fine 4 – 1 win against Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds. Alastair Chuckuk, Patrick Hicks and Ceesay Mballow got the goals at the Western Counties Ground. Barton Athletic 1st are the other unbeaten team in Two, although they were held to a 2 – 2 draw by Ipplepen Ath 2nds at Barton Downs which keeps them in second place. Paignton Saints 2nds who are looking to bounce back after the disappointment of last season and East Allington Utd 2nds both stay in contention with good wins, ex Dartmouth player Ben Greeno got his name on the scoresheet along with Mark Kingdom for the Pirates.
In Division Three South Brent look to have done a few teams a favour by inflicting the first defeat of the season on Watcombe Wanderers 2nds who were starting to run away with this division with a 2 – 1 win in what was a feisty encounter. Stoke Gabriel TP and Newton Abbot 66 2nds had good wins that keep them in contention but result of the day was the 7 – 3 win for Liverton United against pre season favourites Ashburton. Jake Ellis scored in the first minute and then Jamie Passmore scored five goals before Callum Hale finished off a great afternoon in the A38 derby.
Division Four sees new league entrants Drake FC and Elburton Villa 3rds join Liverton United 2nds and Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds in going six points clear at the top. Drake, Elburton and the young rams all scored six goals in their games with Livvy beating Broadhempston Utd 3-0, Shane Essam scored all of the goals for Liverton in a new look team at Halford.
Of all of the teams that either got promoted or joined the South Devon League this season no less than 13 of them are in the top three of their divisions at the moment which has definitely freshened up the competition and given all of the existing teams new challenges and new grounds to visit.
The members of the league management committee have made the draws for the first round of the Herald and Fred Hewings cups.
The Herald cup first round is used to balance the numbers evenly so there are 29 teams that have received a bye and there are three fixtures:
Ivybridge Town 2nds V Bovey Tracey 2nds
Drake FC v South Brent 1st
Totnes and Dartington 1st v Kingsbridge and Kellaton United
The Fred Hewings has 13 teams with a bye into the 2nd round and also has three fixtures:
Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds v Chudliegh Ath 2nds
Liverton United 2nds v Totnes and Dartington 2nds
Paignton Villa 2nds v South Brent 2nds.
These six ties have been scheduled for October 14.
Pick of the fixtures for October 7 are all in the second round of the County cups.
Devon Premier Cup sees four of our teams in action. Kingsteignton Athletic will be put to the test when they host Appledore of the Devon League and also up against opposition from step Seven are ChudleighAthlrtic who travel the short distance to Ipplepen Athletic.
The South Devon League will definitely have at least two teams in round three as Ilsington Villa host Plymouth rivals Morley Rangers in what should be game of the day and Waldon Athletic travel to Loddiswell to play a well drilled Beesands Rovers.
In the Devon Senior Cup last round ome of our clubs had to travel to play their games it seems that the 2nd round has been more kind.Apart that is from Buckland Athletic 2nds who can enjoy a trip to Bideford and Paignton Villa who travel to Dunkeswell in East Devon. The competition favourites Paignton Saints host fellow SDFL side Totnes and Dartington on the artificial turf at Coach Road and Brixham Town host Honiton Town.
In the Devon Intermediate Cup. Paignton Villa 2nds have drawn the short straw with a trip to South Molton but there are a number of ties between SDFL teams. Babbacombe Corries 2nds host Stoke Gabriel TP 2nds at Windmill Hill. Newton Rovers 2nds welcome Liverton United 2nds to Bakers Park, Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds host Totnes and Dartington at Broadpark. Also through to round Two are Newton Abbot 66 who play Shamwickshire Rovers 2nds from North Devon at Osborne Park. All these games kick off at 2pm.
There are no South Devon League fixtures this week as all the available referees are diverted to cover the county cup fixtures. In fact there are 21 South Devon based teams playing at home and with only 19 available referees. Most weeks around six games are played without referees and those clubs have to agree on who is going to take charge of the fixture. This has long been a problem for football at this level and over the years the management committee have had many initiatives to put a sticking plaster over the problem. The shortage of referees does not show signs of improving.